Abstract
The learning skills used by students at a technical college to fully participate in their classes were the focus of this investigation. Researchers shadowed two full-time students for one full day as they each went to their classes in a technical college in Qatar. An observation schedule was used to record what students did in their classes (for example: solve problems, listen to the teacher, ask questions). At the end of the day students were interviewed and asked to comment on the importance of the learning skills that they used, how they built the skills they needed and how to become a better student. It was found that students used a variety of learning skills throughout a typical day and that they had their own ideas about learning. The learning skills the two students used most during their classes were not the same, owing partly to the format of the courses and partly to personal learning approach. The four learning skills students identified as most important were: understand and apply concepts to current work; concentrate and maintain focus; follow written instructions; and ask questions. The information gathered in this investigation can be used to inform students, instructors and course planners about the skills students need to be active participants in their classes and to ensure that educators support the development of required learning skills.
Citation
Macleod, C. and Hayden, P. (2016), "Skills for learning: a day in the life of a college student", Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 31-52. https://doi.org/10.18538/lthe.v13.n2.243
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016 Cheri Macleod and Paula Hayden
License
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
Acknowledgements
Publisher's note: The Publisher would like to inform the reader that the article “Skills for learning: a day in the life of a college student” has changed pagination. Previous pagination was pp. 1-22. The updated pagination for the article is now pp. 31-52. The Publisher apologises for any inconvenience caused.